The Lusitania was
torpedoed on Friday, 7th May 1915, 8 miles from Old Head of Kinsale, 12
miles west of Queenstown. It belonged to the Cunard Co., had a
displacement of 45,000 tons, length 790 feet, breadth 88 feet, depth 60
feet. Built by John Brown & Co., on the Clyde, launched 1906,
and made her maiden trip September 1907. Holds the record from Liverpool
to New York and from Liverpool to New York and back. Properly called the
"Pride of the Atlantic."

About 2 to 2-15 p.m. the
periscope of a submarine was observed, and without any warning two
torpedoes were fired at the ill-fated liner, with the result one struck
the bow and the other burst in the engine room. The explosions were
terrific, and it was soon seen that to save the vessel was hopeless. In a
few minutes there was a heavy list forward, preventing the launching of
some of the lifeboats. In less than half an hour from the explosion the
liner settled down and disappeared beneath the waves.

Another great example of
British heroism and coolness. No hurry, no panic, but women and children
first was the cry; nobly the officers did their duty. All passengers
possible to save, were hurried forward while officers and crew stuck to
the ship.
Although about 700 were saved, the remainder amounting to about 1,500 were
lost.

Immediately after her
S.O.S. wireless was received, every tug, boat and trawler were despatched
to the scene of the awful catastrophe, arriving about two hours after the
disappearance of the liner. They rescued the survivors, amounting to some
650 to 700 souls; many died while being conveyed to the shore from the
exposure and shock received.

About twenty minutes after being
torpedoed, The Lusitania sank bow first, nearly swamping several of
the boats by the suction. A most dastardly crime by a callous foe
murdering innocent women, children and men, which should bring upon the
whole German nation the execration of the whole civilised world.

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